Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Alright everyone, December is upon us once again. It’s time to do another Disney themed month, and I’m excited for what I have planned this time around because I will be reviewing films from a company that I have wanted to review for a long time now. This time I’m going to look at all the Studio Ghibli movies. If you were to ask any random person if they had ever heard of Studio Ghibli, chances are they’ll probably say no. However, if you were to ask a movie buff, anime fan or a critic, they will say they have heard of it, and of its creator, Hayao Miyazaki. However, we have to thank John Lasseter, who is actual friends with Miyazaki, for bringing some of the Studio Ghibli films over to Disney, and having them redubbed in English for the USA audiences. Thanks to Lasseter, Studio Ghibli films are being recognized here in the USA and have gained a lot of popularity, appreciation and love from American audiences. Later in the month, I will let everyone know how I first came to know of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, but for right now, let’s get the month started. Time to look at the very first film made by the studio, “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” released in 1985. I know this film was made before Studio Ghibli was formed, but it still technically counts as a Studio Ghibli film.

For over a quarter century, Japanese writer-director Hayao Miyazaki has been creating imaginative movies that manage to sustain the head and the heart simultaneously. He’s one of those rare makers who can use his imaginary worlds to look at real world issues, but he can entertain so skillfully that his films never look like too preachy.

Most importantly, he’s clearly shown that animation might attract children, but adults can get more out of Miyazaki’s films than most live action films.

Lybarger asked in his review, “So why has it been so tough to get legal versions of his films here in the States?”

Thankfully, Disney was taking a break from making below average direct-to-video versions of their previous films and were releasing new DVDs of three of the best films from Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli.

The people at Disney deserve some special credit for restoring Miyazaki’s debut 1984 film, “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” to its complete 116-minute length. Lybarger noted, “Until now, American audiences have had to settle for a butchered 95-minute version that New World Pictures distributed called "Warriors of the Wind." Miyazaki was reportedly so upset with the deletions and alterations that he hesitated to have his films distributed in the States again.”

Thankfully, “Nausicaä” can be watched either with its original Japanese soundtrack or with a new English dub. Either way, it’s one not to be missed.

The environmental story set in a post-Apocalyptic future is about a young princess named Nausicaä (Alison Lohman) who might have to take her throne early because her father (Mark Silverman) is sick.

The world she lives in has been struck with the ancient Seven Days of Fire where fighting kingdoms used deadly robots called god warriors and ended up killing themselves in the process. Now the humans that have been left in millennium since are scrounging up the mess that is still around.

Lybarger said, “Not only do the rival kingdoms of Pejite and Tolmekia duke it out over limited space, but also a toxic forest loaded with giant insects called Ohmu is further eroding the limited areas where humans can live safely.”

Nausicaä's secluded valley soon becomes a crossroads in a multi-branched fight when the queen of Tolmekia, Kushana, voiced by Uma Thurman, takes over the area and uses it, as Lybarger describes it, “an incubator to revive a dormant god warrior.”

Kushana’s plan is doubtful to start off, but she hasn’t thought of her enemies the Pejites, led by their double-agent mayor, voiced by Mark Hamill, considering an equally dangerous counterattack.

Stuck between the fighting humans and natural forces that could soon destroy all human life, Nausicaä and her mentor Lord Yupa, voiced by Patrick Stewart, must think of a superficially impossible maze of trickery and hatred to stop another Armageddon.

Lybarger said, “Throughout all the intrigue, Miyazaki manages to expertly juggle philosophical concerns with breathtaking action scenes. There are nail biting aerial dogfights, insect stampedes and nifty make-believe creatures. But in his fantasy world, Miyazaki asks an eternal question: Can people look past their hatreds to address more pressing issues?”

The answer is difficult because many of Kushana and the Pejite mayor both have believable reasons for their hatred, and both really believe in their own morality. Miyazaki makes these characters as destructive, but gives them sympathetic traits, so that audiences hope they get an idea.

One of the positives of Miyazaki’s films is that his characters are a lot of the times more complicated than those in live action movies. Military leader Kurotawa, voiced by Chris Sarandon, might be utterly two-faced toward his superior Kushana, but he knows that he and his soldiers might die uselessly because of her plans.

I agree with Lybarger when he said, “The animation in " Nausicaä " lacks some of the polish and finesse of Miyazaki's later films like "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke," but that's because his current crew has access to training and technology that the makers of the older film could only dream of having.”

As it is, the film looks really inspiring 32 years later and, more importantly, Miyazaki’s storytelling characters were well done by the time he made this. “Nausicaä” is the first movie Miyazaki made with its own characters and story, and the trademarks that show up in his later films are all here: flight scenes, strong female characters, symbolic storylines and a feel that his characters have more to do than simply symbolize flat ideas of wrong or right.

Fans of the film might want to read Miyazaki’s huge graphic novel of the same title. He goes into much deeper detail there. Lybarger said, “The new DVD dub is decent, but the extras a mixed bag. The standard "Behind the Microphone" featurette is bland and marginally interesting, and the Studio Ghibli history documentary is informative, but bizarre. It awkwardly balances real footage and recollections with goofy reenactments that distract more than they enlighten.”

Still, it’s great to see Miyazaki’s first signature effort with the honesty and care it deserves. My only complaint is that this is only a part of the story. It leaves off with no ending, but that’s probably because Miyazaki was wanting to see how this would do before making adaptations of the other novels. I, however, didn’t really like this one so much because it was only part of a story, but I don’t hate this one at all. Like the Pixar movies, I don’t think any of the Studio Ghibli films belong in the “not worth watching” category or ones that should be hated. All of them are likable and I think you should check this one out. As you might have guessed, this is my least favorite Studio Ghibli movie, but like I said, you should still see this one, especially if you're fan of the manga series.

Since there aren’t that many Studio Ghibli films, I will not be posting reviews on the weekends. Just wait until Monday when I look at the next installment of “Studio Ghibli Month.”